Menstruation And Kiteboarding: Things You Want To Know

Menstruation and kiteboarding, compatible? I am writing this blog for two reasons: to break taboos and to share what I found about kiteboarding and menstruation. I interviewed two gynecologists and a midwife nurse that practice kiteboarding or other water sports and found interesting things that are worth to read. Menstruation, kiting, sex and menstrual cups, that would make a good summary.

The Experts

Three water lovers and specialists on the woman’s body:

Dr. Yvette Alvarez: From Mexico, 21 years of experience as gynecologist specialized in fetal medicine. Swimmer.

Dr. Jean Yu: From the USA, 8 years of experience as a gynecologist. Kitesurfer and surfer.

Dr. Isis Casamiquela: From Spain, 6 years of experience as a nurse midwive. Surfer.

Menstruation And Kiteboarding + SEX!

‘The period should not stop you from anything!’ This is what Dr. Casamiquela first said when I asked if kiteboarding and menstruation go together. ‘If you are a person who practice sports a lot you can use natural products such as Onagra Oil (Evening Primrose Oil) to prevent the body alterations caused by the menstruation. Scientific studies affirm that sportswomen suffer less menstruation pain, because of the endorphins, that help your mind and body’.

Dr. Alvarez also referred to the endorphins: ‘The feeling of satisfaction makes our body release endorphins’. Endorphins are a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and have few physiological functions. They are peptides which activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect.

As Dr. Alvarez said, ‘you have to do things that make you feel good, comfortable, because endorphins are released with pleasure and they will reduce the menstrual pain’.

This means that if you have your menstruation and kiting is what you love and want, go for it!

Therefore, sex is another way to alleviate the menstrual pain, as well as dancing to a song you like or doing anything that makes you feel good. Dr. Alvarez said in a very convincing way: ‘Sex and menstruation is very recommendable, no more taboos about it!’. Dr. Casamiquela also remarked how important are the orgasms to decrease the pain and relax our bodies during our menstrual days.

I really loved that fact because it means that women with their menstruation need to do the things they like. Yes! Everybody needs to know that and should actually be a rule and a right. Sorry I have my period and I must go kiting. Love that.

So make love and kite as much as you want during your menstruation days!

Listen To Your Body

I spent some time asking kite girls about what they do when they have the menstruation, do they kite? Almost all of them affirmed nothing stops them when they have their period, even less when is about kiteboarding! One woman even said that the menstrual pain makes her feel an especial empowerment when kiteboarding. We are strong ladies, what can we do!

Dr. Yu informed that ‘kiteboarding during your menstruation can be beneficial or not depending on each individual woman, as everyone’s body is different. It can also vary month to month. Some women have heavier periods or cramping and may not feel comfortable in the water. Other women may feel no different when they are on their periods versus not on their periods’.

‘If you suffer a lot of pain, analgesic and go to bed, if the pain is little, you can try to do some sports’, Dr. Alvarez says.

‘Use common sense and listen to your body. If you are doing any activity that causes discomfort, pain, dizziness or lightheadedness, stop or modify the activity and do something else. Women are very in tune with their bodies – physically, mentally, and emotionally’, Dr. Yu explained.

And of course there are many ways to read your body, as one of my kite buddies says: ‘having the period won’t stop me to go kitesurfing, even if I have pain, no energies or I feel dizzy, the passion for adrenaline always wins!’.

Menstruation At The Beach

If you are at the beach with menstrual pain, Dr. Alvarez recommends to refresh yourself in the water and take analgesics. She also points out that caffeine provokes more pain! So no more killing yourself with coffee or tea when you feel sick during your days.

And what about being in the water and our period? Dr. Casamiquela explained that if you have your period and go into the water you will stop bleeding because the cold provokes vasoconstriction. On the other hand, the heat relieves the tension of the uterus caused by the menstruation and therefore, will relieve pain. ‘For women with cramping, usually warm water and heating pads help relieve the cramping and discomfort’, said Dr. Yu.

And this is what Dr. Casamiquela does: ‘If I have my period and I want to go surfing I take analgesic before the pain is too strong and I use a neoprene top to warm up the lower back and the uterus area’.

Also, we all know how uncomfortable can sometimes be to use tampons or pads at the beach. Having to use public restrooms or dealing with no sanitary facilities is not always fun. However, we learned that practicing your favorite sports helps when having your period so a solution is needed! This is when I would like to introduce the menstrual cup.

The Menstrual Cup

When asking kiteboarding women about having the menstruation and kiting, the menstrual cup was a topic that appeared very often. It seems that is the holy discovery of the surfer girls! Menstrual cup, do you know what this is? If yes, I am sure you know the benefits. If not, please keep reading because this might change your life!

The menstrual cup is the alternative to the disposable pads and tampons. It is a cup shaped silicone method of period care. It collects the fluid instead of absorbing it, offering many advantages:

· You don’t have to deal anymore with the toxic bleach inside your body from tampons and pads

· You can wear it overnight and in the water

· Is reusable! You would be doing a huge favor to nature and to your bank account

· Perfect to wear with your bikini! No more annoying strings showing out of your bottoms!

Here there is a short blog about a surfer who uses the menstrual cup. Just a little example of its benefits! ‘Mooncup’ by Georgina Monti

Menstruation And Kiteboarding, Sharky?

I had to say something about it but all I can say is… really? Sharks can smell women in their periods? I don’t know if I want to research or forget about it…

Pregnancy And Kiteboarding

All the experts I interviewed answered NO because it can be dangerous for the woman and for the baby. They don’t recommend doing anything that requires an extra effort, because women use a lot their stomach for that. However, they recommend other sports that are not high performance sports.

But at the same time, I talked to many women who kept kiting when pregnant. I have to say that these women already knew how to kite and where very aware of themselves and others when in the water. So the question for me is still open.

So hey, lets go kiting, have sex and… keep spreading our woman power!

If you are reading this article and feel you have something to say, please leave a comment! I would love to learn from you or answer your questions.

I think if you ask my friends they might say I am a happy, spontaneous and outgoing kitesurfer. My family would describe me more as a laid back and relaxed person, probably stubborn too. My co-workers might think I am fortunate, passionate and maybe a bit crazy. I see myself as an adventurous, playful, confident and a life lover spirit.

Comments

I kited till I was 7.5 months pregnant. I used a seat harness and the bar could slide over my belly. I found that it relieved back pain significantly because of the way we lean back into the harness. It flares the iliums open to free up the sacrum and decompresses the sacral base. I think it helped keep me comfortable in pregnancy!